Light Garden

November 06, 2008

These light gardens are from a post on Apartment Therapy. It's good to see a post on this valuable subject. Unfortunately there is little or no information about a better solution.

My recommendation is none of the above. Buy an InterMetro style adjustable rack. You can buy a 4’ wide, 6’ tall, 18” deep rack with 5 shelves and 4 casters for about $100 at Costco. Seville Classics is an importer of these racks.

The shelves are adjustable in 1” increments to provide the ultimate in versatility as your plant sizes change over time.

Further, when you use sub-irrigated planters, there is no need for drainage. You do not need messy trays under the plants.

May 13, 2008

The AeroGarden is the first product in my long career that has succeeded in demystifying the production of personal food. It would be a bad pun to say "mystifying" the roots did it.

All you need do is plug it in whether you're in a cold climate apartment in the north or a condo in the south. The necessary environment of adequate light and water is under digital control. A built-in micro-processor automatically adjusts nutrient delivery, light cycles and water for specific plant types. A built-in light timer turns lights on and off and a built-in reminder system automatically alerts you to add water and nutrients.

The AeroGarden has created a market in retailing but has it created a market in the investment world? The two don't always go together.

A couple of bloggers have taken a hard look at the stock of AeroGrow, the company behind the AeroGarden.

The blog posts and comments following them are an interesting insight into the world of start-up companies and IPO's. As a disclaimer, I do not own AeroGrow stock.

April 14, 2008

Okay, so it's not a real "vertical farm". Think of it as an embryonic vertical farm. We need to start some where other than the outdated clay pots and saucers inside many of our homes and offices. They were only modern in the time of the ancients.

This is one of the Inside Plants Science Mini-Labs that is now in my Brooklyn apartment. This is what should be (but isn't) in the science lab of every school in America. If it were, we would be a lot further along in science education. We would be a lot further along a path to more local food production. As it is, due to a lack of up-to-date information most of us are still crawling in a horticultural kindergarten.

What you’re looking at is an investment of under $100 for a 4’x6’ InterMetro style rolling rack (Costco) with 1” increment adjustable shelves. It currently has two shop lights with room for more. This one is chrome but you can find them in black and white powder coat finishes.

Do I hear objections to fluorescent lighting? If so, put the garden in your office, a spare room or a bedroom if it bothers you to have it in your living area. With a timer, it can come on at night when you’re asleep. Use a little creativity. The result will be well worth it.

I’ve gotten very used to this garden and would miss its presence. It provides a cheery view when the weather outside is winter bleak. I lived with ten of these racks in my home back in San Diego. They soon will be rolling into some Brooklyn school rooms helping to teach modern plant science.

Commercial light gardens of this type cost much more. Those from Gardener’s Supply and the National Gardening Association will likely cost you over $700 delivered. Neither of them does any more than what you see above. Incidentally, note that there are no drainage trays, saucers or catch pans. None are needed when using sub-irrigation.

The small Ficus trees growing in expanded clay pebbles were rescued from temporary storage in the middle school science lab. The recycled pop bottle planters and propagators produced the results you see here and here.